Check Rates & Room Types For This Hotel  Arrival Date:    Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec   1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Nights: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Rooms: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 > 9 Adults: Children: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 > 20 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 > 20

by Andrew Scott

Affordable luxury and unsurpassed comfort is what first comes to mind when I think of the Sheraton Downtown, and these first impressions are quite accurate in summing up my two night stay at this inviting hotel. When I first arrived to check in I was immediately taken back by the scale of the building. Stepping inside the lobby I noticed plush furniture, glass elevators overlooking the lobby and a magnificent 28 story rise to the top of the establishment. Being accustomed to staying at the typical two to three story hotel when traveling, the Sheraton gave me the feeling of a surreal experience during my first few moments of becoming accustomed. And although the price of staying certainly reflects the more regal surroundings, I never felt throughout my stay that the added cost was exorbitant nor unwarranted.

The front desk was courteous and extremely attentive in getting me checked-in and making sure that everything I needed was taken care of, making my check-in an all around smooth process. As soon as I was settled in, I headed straight for Speaker's Bistro: the on-site restaurant. Speaker's had a good mixture of burgers and sandwiches, and I'm told they have an excellent buffet, though I opted for a plain hamburger.

After the filling meal I made a quick rendezvous back to my room for some paper and a pen, then began to explore my new, temporary home. Starting with the rooms themselves, I don't even know where to start. The bed was extremely soft and giving, and not at all what I am typically used to when resting outside of my own home. And being situated on the 23^rd floor, my room window, which stretched the length of one entire wall, gave way to an unsurpassed view of downtown Nashville. Bell South, Titan's Stadium and numerous other landmarks could easily be spotted while gazing out at the busy streets below.

Through exploration of the entire facility, which was greatly enhanced by the help of an extremely friendly lady that worked for the Sheraton, I found that nearly anything I could need was offered right at the hotel. Along with Speaker's Bistro, located on the second floor, there is a Speaker's Lounge on the first floor that serves a variety of drinks and hosts live music in the early evening hours. A concierge service was located just to the side of the front desk for any area information that I might need, and down the hall from the concierge service there was a workout facility, indoor pool and even a convenience store. I was informed that the hotel was currently in the midst of renovating the fitness facility within the next few weeks, and as it seemed up to par upon my visit I'm sure that it will only be all the more impressive as of now.

Of course, the actual properties amenities are far from the only plus that the Sheraton has to offer. Along with the many great finds inside the building, the location of the Sheraton was also extremely impressive. Throughout my stay I found myself literally across the street from the War Memorial Auditorium and library, bot extremely impressive establishments in their own right, and within walking distance to the State Capitol, convention center, Gaylord Entertainment Center and numerous other downtown attractions that visitors will doubtlessly want to experience.

If you're looking for a touch of luxury combined with friendly faces and a perfect location, then you'll most likely find the Sheraton Downtown Hotel to be an accommodating stay. Simple, yet elegantly decorated rooms and a wealth of amenities met me upon arrival for an atmosphere that greatly enhanced my time in and memories of the Nashville area. The old adage goes "you get what you pay for", though at the Sheraton I would definitely say the quality of stay heavily outweighs the extra cost.